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Abstract:

The T-Point Lift is an electrically actuated, hydraulic, removable
three-point hitch/lift assembly, which is installed on vehicles and
equipment having a 2'' receiver mount, for quick installation and removal
by one person. An inverted T shaped mounting frame with mounting points
for an upper lift arm and two lower lift arms is inserted into a vehicles
receiver. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the lift frame and upper
lift arm which carries any attached load with assistance from attached
lift links transferring the load to lower lift arms and providing sway
control. An electrical power source is the only requirement for the
attached hydraulic power pack with controls, thus not requiring any
modification to the vehicle or equipment, to employ the apparatus in the
manor for which it was designed, which tractor implements can be
installed and used in accordance with their intended use up to and
including category 1 three point implements.

Claims:

1. A t-point lift, three-point hitch/lift assembly for use on vehicles or
equipment, with a 2-inch receiver mounted to their frame, front or rear
and said hitch being comprised of: a receiver bar that provides mounting
to a vehicle or equipment by inserting it into said 2 inch receiver
mount, and having a horizontal cross member having safety chain tabs.
Said cross member having tabs that extend out perpendicular from the
frame for mounting of pivot points, which to mount said lower lift arms.
a vertical support tube having a mount attached onto one side for
mounting an electric hydraulic power pack assembly and topped off by two
plates attached on either side at the top of the vertical support tube,
having surfaces that extend out perpendicularly, each with a hole aligned
horizontally, which are to facilitate as a pivot point for mounting of
the upper lift arm with a removable retaining pin. a frame strut at the
point where the horizontal cross member and the vertical support tube
meet, opposite of the receiver mounting bar attached and extending
downward below the horizontal cross member, is a hydraulic cylinder mount
which serves as a mount for the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder.
These parts together form the lift frame of the assembly.

2. The t-point lift, three-point hitch/lift assembly of claim 1, further
comprises of: a upper lift arm consists of a square tube that extends
outward from the pivot pin on the lift frame at the top of the vertical
support tube. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the upper lift arm by
mounting plates that extend below the bottom edge of the lift arm tube,
and have adjustment holes aligned on each side to adjust mounting of the
hydraulic cylinder ram arm with a pin for best possible ground engagement
or force possible with the installed implement or device. There are
different holes to accommodate different vehicle heights and to provide
adjustment to attach different implements. a horizontal stabilizer bar is
mounted on the bottom of the lift arm, square tube. This horizontal
stabilizer bar replaceable lift pins to which lift links are installed at
each end extending downward to the lower lift arms. At the end of the
lift arm square tube is a threaded joint into which fits a threaded
adjustable rod that has a rod end serves as the top mount point of three
point hitch implements via a category 1 pin hole. These parts together
form the Upper Lift arm of the assembly.

3. The t-point lift, three-point hitch/lift assembly of claim 1, further
comprises of: a set of lower lift arm with one end attached to the lift
frame and the other open to accept the mount pins of a three point
implement. The lower lift arms having a tab with adjustment holes to
facilitate mounting of adjustable lift linkage extending up to the
mounting pins on the upper lift arm horizontal stabilizer bar.

4. The t-point lift, three-point hitch/lift assembly of claim 1, further
comprises of: a frame mounted electrically powered hydraulic power pack
or integrated hydraulic cylinder/power pack, with remote controls
required for the operation of the three point hitch to lift the installed
three point accessory. a hydraulic cylinder mounted to the upper lift arm
and to the lift frame by mounting plates and hydraulic cylinder mounts.
The upper lift arm plates that extend below the bottom edge of the lift
arm tube, have adjustment holes aligned on each side to adjust mounting
of the hydraulic cylinder ram arm with a removable pin for best possible
ground engagement or force possible with the installed implement or
device.

5. The t-point lift, three-point hitch/lift, by way of assembly, design
and operation, said hitch, maintains the proper parallelogram orientation
of the three point implement hitch, using an upper lift arm as the
primary lifting device rather than relying on lower lift arms of a
traditional three point design to carry the weight of the load installed
on the hitch.

6. The t-point lift, three-point hitch/lift, by way of assembly, design
and operation, said assembly maintains a variety of adjustments for the
fitment of various sizes and design of three point implements without
making said assembly a permanent installation to a vehicle or equipment.
Said hitch utilizes several different categories of three point
implements, not limited to, category 0 and category 1, by way of
adjustment and reconfiguration of lift links and upper lift arm mounting
points, making said lift more versatile in application and implementation
behind or in front of a broader spectrum of vehicles or equipment capable
of mounting said device.

Description:

[0002] This invention is intended as a three-point hitch/lift system for
vehicles or equipment having a 2-inch receiver hitches mounted to their
frame. The T-Point Lift system was designed from the ground up to be
compatible for installation with all standard 2-inch frame mounted
receiver hitches and only requiring a vehicle power source or battery.
The vehicles recommended for use include, but are not limited to pickup
trucks, SUVs, Jeeps, utility vehicles and ATV's. All having in common the
2'' standardized frame mounted towing receiver.

[0003] Unlike the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,928 to
Spears, Nov. 21, 2000, (referred to herein as Spears) it does not limit
it to only being used on a pickup truck. Whereas the Spears device has an
additional mount requirement of a gooseneck hitch, The T-Point Lift can
be used by any vehicle or piece of equipment having only a two inch
receiver mount either front or rear. The T-Point Lift also does not have
any other permanent mounting requirements of associated frame work or
brackets for attaching the three point hitch to the vehicle or equipment
as outlined in the apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,394 to
Kendle on Jun. 13, 1995 (referred to herein as Kendle), U.S. Pat. No.
4,940,096 to Johnson on Jul. 10, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,018 to
Koster on Sep. 13, 1994, thereby permitting it to be installed and
removed completely and efficiently, by one person, to one or more
vehicles as if it were a receiver towing hitch.

[0004] The three-point design can utilize most category 1 implements not
requiring a PTO making it simpler to operate and install than the Kendle
and Spears apparatuses. This invention is also suited for the use of
lighter duty implements on ATV's and utility vehicles. Unlike the U.S.
Pat. No. 5,746,275 to Cross on May 5, 1998, which required a mounting
frame to the axle of an ATV, the mounting and use requirements of the
T-Point lift three point hitch on an ATV or utility vehicle follows the
same guidelines as the mounting requirements for larger vehicles in that
they only need a receiver to insert the three point lift frame into for
use and a vehicle power source or battery for the lift frame mounted
hydraulic power pack. The structure of the frame assembly lends to rigid
structural integrity and having the strength to lift larger implements or
larger quantities of weight with the use of a hydraulically actuated
cylinder and an electrically powered hydraulic power pack unlike the U.S.
Pat. No. 6,257,347 to Campisi on Jul. 10, 2001 which uses a winch mounted
at the top of a pivoting support. The rigid structure of the t-point lift
frame will reduce the possibility of binding of an implement behind a tow
vehicle or piece of equipment as in the design of all three point hitch
lifting devices on tractors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The T-Point Lift equips a vehicle or piece of equipment with the
versatile capability of a three-point hitch and benefits from the ease of
installation and removal that a receiver hitch provides. In conjunction
with no other permanent mounting requirements, it turns a vehicle into a
tractor like device that is capable of breaking ground, plowing snow,
leveling dirt and gravel, digging shallow trenches, and any other task
that would require a small to mid-sized tractor to use the type of three
point implements and with the power, safety and comfort of today's
reliable and efficient vehicles and equipment. Some of the 3-point
implements may include but is not limited to scraper boxes, scraper
blades, landscape rakes, disks, plows, hayforks and pallet movers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following is a brief description of the drawings which form
part of the specification.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a quartering view of the t-point lift three point
hitch/lift assembly, to allow observation of parts referenced in the
figure with the best possible definition of the indicated part. It is
viewed as if the hitch were not mounted for use, but fully assembled and
without a three point implement installed.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a view from where a three point implement were to be
installed on the three point hitch/lift assembly and, to allow
observation of parts referenced in the figure with the best possible
definition of the indicated part.

[0009] FIG. 3 is the t-point lift three point hitch/lift invention from a
silhouette view as if it were mounted to a vehicle with a three point
implement mounted on the hitch for use in the raised position.

[0010] Similar reference numbers pertain to corresponding parts throughout
all drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The T-Point Lift system is comprised of components, when
incorporated together and working properly, is designed to use three
point implements and lift up to the rated weight capacity of the vehicle
it is installed on, or up to 2000 lbs. The T-Point Lift system can be
manufactured from steel, stainless steel, steel alloys, aluminum,
aluminum alloys, titanium, carbon fiber, composites, and any combination
of these materials or any other material suitable for stress loads that
may be encountered as a component of the following hitch/lift assembly.

[0012] Initially referring to FIG. 3 and then referring to drawing FIGS.
1, 2 and 3, the lift frame consists of several components starting with a
lift frame receiver mounting bar 1 that provides mounting to a vehicle
45, by inserting it into a 2 inch receiver hitch 46 and aligning the
retaining pin holes 2, then installing a retaining pin through the pin
holes in the hitch and lift frame receiver bar. The lift frame receiver
bar is attached, opposite of the mounting end, to a square tube
horizontal cross member 3, best viewed in FIG. 1. The horizontal cross
member has tabs 41 attached near each end, which have a hole in the
center for safety chains 48. The cross member also has a plate 4
attached, capping each end and extending rearward with a hole drilled in
the tab that extends rearward, where replaceable lift points 40 are
mounted. At the point where the receiver bar and horizontal cross member
intersect, is attached a square vertical support tube 5. The lift frame
vertical support tube has a mount 6 attached onto one side for mounting
the hydraulic power pack assembly 10. At the top of the vertical support
tube are two plates 8 attached onto each side of it. Each of these plates
have a hole in the tab, that extends from the vertical support tube,
which are to facilitate as a pivot point for mounting of the upper lift
arm with a retaining pin 7. The vertical support tube has a cap 9 to keep
debris or water from accumulating in the frame causing corrosion and
eventual failure. At the point where the horizontal cross member 3 and
the vertical support tube meet 5, opposite of the receiver mounting bar
1, attached and extending downward below the horizontal cross member, is
a square frame strut 34, see FIG. 1. A cap 9, caps the frame strut.
Attached on the rear, bottom edge, of the frame strut is a bottom
hydraulic cylinder mount, 38, having a hole in it. This serves as a mount
for the lower hydraulic cylinder pin 33.

[0013] Referring to drawing FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the upper lift arm consists
of a square tube 13 that extends outward from the pin 7 in the upper lift
arm pivot point plates 8 at the top of the vertical support tube 5.
Attached to each side of the lift arm square tube are two hydraulic
cylinder-mounting plates 11. The square plates extend below the bottom
edge of the lift arm tube, and have four adjustment holes aligned on each
side to facilitate mounting of the hydraulic cylinder ram arm with pin
12. There are four different holes to accommodate different vehicle
heights and to provide adjustment to attach different implements. On the
bottom of the lift arm, square tube at the end of the hydraulic cylinder
mounting plates a horizontal stabilizer bar 16 is attached to the lift
arm square tube and the mounting plates. This horizontal stabilizer bar
has at a plate 15 attached on each end, with a hole to accommodate a
replaceable lift pin 14, to which a lift link is installed at each end
extending downward to the lower lift arms. At the end of the lift arm
square tube is a threaded joint 17 into which fits a threaded adjustable
rod 18 that has a rod end 19 serves as the top mount point of three point
hitch implements 47 via a pin hole 20. By inserting a top link pin 49 in
pin hole 20 allows the upper lift arm to secure three point implements
for use.

[0014] As seen in drawing FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the lift links are an
adjustable link that attached between the upper lift arm and lower lift
arms and serve to stabilize the implements installed and to distribute
the forces, caused by weight or oscillating implements, to the lift arms
and lift frame. They are adjustable by means of a threaded barrel 21, 27
in the middle of opposite threaded rod ends 28. These rod ends have holes
in the end to facilitate mounting to the upper and lower lift arms. In
FIGS. 1-3 the lower lift arms 26, 37 have a swiveling ball pivot points
39, 31, 24, 42 attached on at each end, having Category 1 three point
hitch size holes 30, 25. The category 1 holes 30, 25 in the swiveling
ball joints at the ends of the lift arms, serve to provide attachment
points for the two lower lift points of a three-point implement 47 and to
keep the installed implement in trail of the tow vehicle. Attached on the
top edge of both the left and the right hand lower lift arms, are lift
link lower pin mount tabs 22, 29, each of which have holes 36, which
provide a mounting point for the lift link mount pins 23, 35, which are
best viewed from FIGS. 1 and 3. The use of different holes provides
adjustment for the type and category of implement used.

[0015] As viewed in FIGS. 1-3, the hydraulic power pack unit 10 mounted to
the lift frame on the power pack mount 6, as seen in FIG. 2, serves to
provide the hydraulic pressure to operate the separately installed
hydraulic cylinder. The vehicles electrical system provides the power
supply through a harness 44 to run the electric hydraulic power pack.
FIGS. 2 and 3 shows a hydraulic hose 43, which runs between the hydraulic
power pack and the hydraulic cylinder and incorporates a quick disconnect
49 at the hydraulic power pack. Control of the T-Point Lift is through a
wired harness 44 or wireless remote control (not shown) to the hydraulic
power pack, for power up/float down or power up and power down force
depending on application of implement. Best viewed in drawing FIGS. 1 and
3, the hydraulic cylinder 32 is installed between two mounting points.
One mounting point 38 is located on the lower end of the square frame
strut 34 on the lift frame and the other between the mounting plates 11
on the lower edges of the upper lift arm. The hydraulic cylinder 32 is
connected to the rest of the assembly with pins 12 and 33 to secure it in
place at both ends and allow it to pivot at the top and bottom while in
its range of motion.

[0016] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness
of understanding and that the present invention is not limited to the
description as given above. It is understood that changes, modifications
and arrangements of structure, parts and operation can be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the invention listed by the
following claim(s)